Mission Society of the Philippines

Homilies

18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE

Jn 6:24-35

THE READINGS for this Sunday basically talk on the bread from heaven. It is said to be the bread of God that comes down from heaven. It is the bread that the angels partake. The Israelites in the book of Exodus grumbled to Moses that they are experiencing hunger in the desert. They asked him why he brought them out of Egypt, if they are only to die of hunger in the desert. God heard their complaint and said to Moses that they will receive meat from quails and especially bread from heaven, manna, to satisfy their hunger.

In the Gospel of John, we hear Jesus giving words to the disciples and the people, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” These words came after the story of the Multiplication of the Loaves that we heard last Sunday. The ‘Bread of Life,’ points us to the Eucharist.

Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis (The Sacrament of Charity) says that in the “Eucharist Jesus does not give us a ‘thing,’ but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood. He thus gives us the totality of his life and reveals the ultimate origin of his love... Jesus thus shows that he is the bread of life which the eternal Father gives to mankind.”

Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. It is He himself given to us as the source of nourishment, strength, and inspiration. The daily receiving of the Eucharist is a very special privilege. Jesus is only received by those who are able to receive it. (Sacramental communion is so special that there are conditions required for its reception.) Many people long to receive the bread of life, yet not all of them can. Many are hindered to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for various reasons. 

I know of someone who is a daily church-goer. She hardly misses a Mass. I can say that she is very much devoted to the Eucharist that after Mass she goes straight to the Adoration Chapel to pray to His ‘true presence.’ I learned from her the love and service to the Eucharist. But nowadays, she is not able to do physically what she loves as she is hindered by her job as nurse in the Middle East, where the Eucharist is not that welcomed. I know it is hard for her.

While being a seminarian doing apostolate in a parish in Auckland Diocese, my Fridays were usually the busiest in the week. I had to manage my time well so as not to miss doing important matters. Yet even if I was busy, I would always love to take some time off in the morning to bring communion to the sick and elderly in the parish. Friday is our day of visitation of the sick. My parish priest and I took turns in bringing Jesus to them. Seeing the elderly smile and thanked me for bringing them Jesus made me so happy. It’s as if I did not have deadlines to catch on that day. It truly made my day.

Jesus in the Eucharist makes us witnesses of God’s love for humanity. He invites us to be extensions of his compassion to all. The Eucharist must give rise to our sense of service, and service of charity to our neighbours. This is a tough invitation as it involves loving those who are unlovable, people who have hurt us, and hate us. However, in receiving Jesus, he gives us the strength to be able to feel and see from his perspective and not from our own. Relying on our own strengths will be difficult. All of us are called to be bread of life to others, just as Jesus is. Amen.
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Please join in praying for the eternal repose of the soul of our dear former president Corazon Aquino. ‘Tita Cory,’ has been one of the best examples of Filipino Catholics who gave their lives witnessing to the truth, the same truth that Jesus in the Eucharist teaches us... to be a source of inspiration to others. God bless you Tita Cory and may you rest in peace!

                                 [Sem MARC LOUIE CALO, MSP
                                  MSP Seminary, Tagaytay City]

 

 

 


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